Many Gmail users have been stuck with email addresses they created during their teenage years. Now, Google is offering them a fresh opportunity to make a change.
Google has begun rolling out a new Gmail feature that allows users to update their @gmail.com address while keeping their existing account, data, and connected services intact. This marks a significant shift from the long-standing policy of treating Gmail addresses as permanent identifiers.
The rollout is currently limited and not available to all users. According to official documentation, the update is being introduced gradually, meaning some may not yet see the option in their settings.
"The ability to change your Google Account email address is rolling out to all users gradually, so you might not have access to this option right now," Google states on its support page. At the time of writing, updated instructions are already live on the Hindi version of Google’s support site, suggesting the launch may have initially targeted India or other Hindi-speaking regions.
Under the new system, users can switch their primary Gmail address while retaining the old one as an alias. Emails sent to the original address will continue to be delivered to the same inbox, and both old and new addresses can be used to sign in to Google services such as Gmail, YouTube, Google Drive, Maps, and Google Photos.
Critically, Google confirms no data will be lost during this transition. Messages, files, photos, subscriptions, calendar entries, and purchase history remain unaffected after the address change.
Limits and Restrictions
This newfound flexibility comes with constraints. Users can only change their Gmail address once every 12 months. There's also a lifetime cap on changes—users are allowed up to three address changes, meaning a maximum of four distinct Gmail addresses can be associated with a single account over time.
Once a new address is selected, it cannot be removed. Additionally, users won’t be able to create another new Gmail address for the same account for at least one year following a change.
The feature applies exclusively to personal Gmail accounts ending in @gmail.com. Google Workspace accounts provided by employers, schools, or other organizations are not eligible for this update.
No Official Announcement Yet
Despite the significance of this update, Google has not issued a formal press release or published a blog post announcing the change. The feature was first spotted in user forums and later confirmed through Google’s own support documentation.
As of now, Google has not disclosed which regions will receive the feature next or when it will become globally available. On the English-language support page, outdated information still appears, stating that a Gmail address "can't be changed."
While the feature is highly anticipated, experts urge caution. Forbes reports that hackers often exploit major product rollouts by launching phishing campaigns. If you receive an email with a link claiming “Click here to change your Gmail address,” treat it with skepticism.
Additionally, as 2026 approaches, Gmail is making broader security improvements. Google is phasing out legacy POP access for third-party apps in favor of the more secure IMAP protocol. As reported by Forbes, Google has stated, “Gmail will no longer support checking mail from third-party accounts via POP.”
Users relying on third-party applications to manage their Gmail must migrate to modern, secure configurations before the end of the year.
